Haleakala SilverSword (Maui)

This is the very rare Haleakala SilverSword plant which grows ONLY at high altitude in the volcanic soil near the top of Mt. Haleakala in Maui.
This plant can live for many years but blooms only once and then dies. It is protected and very delicate, with a shallow root system which extends outward under the lava crust to anchor itself. The tough silver swords are another excellent example of evolutionary adaptation to a harsh environment, serving to efficiently accumulate and store moisture in this hot-lava "soil".